Electric-power conversion system

ABSTRACT

The number of constituent components is reduced so as to provide a small-size and inexpensive electric-power conversion system. The electric-power conversion system is provided with an inverter circuit ( 14 ) connected with the rear stage of an AC power source, a smoothing capacitor ( 22 ) connected with the rear stage of the inverter circuit ( 14 ) by way of a rectifying device ( 20 ), a charging switch ( 2 ) that is connected with the front stage of the inverter circuit ( 14 ), that inputs an electric quantity based on an output of the AC power source ( 1 ) to the inverter circuit ( 14 ) when being turned on, and that cuts off an input of the electric quantity to the inverter circuit ( 14 ) when being turned off, and an inrush current prevention circuit ( 7 ) having an inrush current prevention switch ( 3 ) and an inrush current prevention resistor ( 4 ) that is connected in series with the rear stage of the inrush current prevention switch ( 3 ); the electric-power conversion system is characterized in that the inrush current prevention circuit ( 7 ) is connected in parallel with the charging switch ( 2 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No.PCT/JP2012/056345 filed Mar. 13, 2012, claiming priority based onJapanese Patent Application No. 2011-149764 filed Jul. 6, 2011, thecontents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electric-power conversion system forconverting AC electric power into DC electric power and moreparticularly to an electric-power conversion system provided with acircuit for raising the input power factor.

BACKGROUND ART

As a conventional electric-power conversion system, a technologydisclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. As illustrated in FIG. 17, theconventional electric-power conversion system includes a diode bridge 12connected with an AC power source 1 by way of a main relay 10; aninverter circuit 14 connected with the rear stage of the diode bridge 12by way of an inrush current prevention resistor 4 and a reactor 13 andformed of a single-phase inverter configured with a DC voltage source19, diodes 15 and 16, and semiconductor switching devices 17 and 18; anda smoothing capacitor 22 connected with the rear stage of the invertercircuit 14 by way of a rectifier diode 20 and a short-circuiting switch21.

A charging relay 2 a is connected in parallel with the inrush currentprevention resistor 4. The positive electrode of the smoothing capacitor22 is provided between the inrush current prevention resistor 4 and thereactor 13, by way of a discharging resistor 11 and a discharging relay5 a. In addition, reference numerals 31, 32, and 33 denote a rectifiedvoltage detection circuit, a DC voltage detection circuit, and asmoothing capacitor voltage detection circuit, respectively.

In the conventional electric-power conversion circuit configured in sucha manner, full wave rectification is applied to an AC input from the ACpower source 1 and then is inputted to the inverter circuit 14 by way ofthe reactor 13. The inverter circuit 14 PWM-controls an input currentfrom the diode bridge 12 in such a way that the power factor of theinput from the AC power source 1 becomes approximately “1” andaccumulates energy in the DC voltage source 19; concurrently, theinverter circuit 14 makes the DC voltage across the smoothing capacitor22 keep track of a predetermined target voltage. Such a conventionalelectric-power conversion system can improve the input power factor andreduce the power loss and noise.

PRIOR ART REFERENCE Patent Document

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-95160

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in order to perform charging operation for charging thesmoothing capacitor 22, the foregoing conventional electric-powerconversion system requires the main relay 10 for establishing orbreaking connection between the AC power source 1 and the electric-powerconversion system and the charging relay 2 a for short-circuiting theinrush current prevention resistor 4 that prevents an inrush current ata time when the operation thereof is started.

In general, among electronic-component faults induced by siloxane, arelay-contact fault is dominant; in the case where silicone, which mayproduce low-molecular siloxane, is utilized in an enclosed component,movement heat of the component produces siloxane, which adheres to therelay contact. In particular, in the case of a relay that is frequentlyturned on and off, impact is constantly exerted onto the contacts;therefore, there has been a problem that siloxane that adheres to thesurface of the contact is oxidation-decomposed into carbon dioxide(SiO2), which provides an effect as an electric insulator and causes acontact fault. For example, the foregoing problem is posed when amaterial including silicone is utilized as a component adhesive or aheat radiation sheet. Therefore, it is considered that it is better notto frequently use a relay.

When, as a switch, a semiconductor device such as a MOSFET (Metal OxideSemiconductor Field Effect Transistor) or an IGBT (Insulated GateBipolar Transistor) is utilized instead of a relay, the power lossbecomes large because the on-resistance of the semiconductor switchingdevice is higher than that of a relay. Therefore, in terms of raisingthe efficiency of an electric-power conversion system, it is better toutilize a relay instead of a semiconductor switching device.

In the foregoing conventional electric-power conversion system, it isrequired to provide the inrush current prevention resistor 4 for preventan inrush current at a time when the operation starts and thedischarging resistor 11 for discharging, at a time when the operationends, electric charges accumulated in the smoothing capacitor 22;however, those resistors are expensive and utilizing those resistors iswasteful because those resistors are not utilized during normaloperation. Accordingly, there has been a problem that the electric-powerconversion system is upsized and the production cost increases.

The present invention has been implemented in order to solve theforegoing problems in conventional electric-power conversion systems;the objective thereof is to decrease the number of constituentcomponents and to provide a small-size and inexpensive electric-powerconversion system.

Means for Solving the Problems

An electric-power conversion system according to the present inventionis provided with an inverter circuit connected with the rear stage of anAC power source, a smoothing capacitor connected with the rear stage ofthe inverter circuit by way of a rectifying diode, a charging switchthat is connected with the front stage of the inverter circuit, thatinputs an electric quantity based on an output of the AC power source tothe inverter circuit when being turned on, and that cuts off an input ofthe electric quantity to the inverter circuit when being turned off, andan inrush current prevention circuit having an inrush current preventionswitch and an inrush current prevention resistor that is connected inseries with the rear stage of the inrush current prevention switch; theelectric-power conversion system is characterized in that the inrushcurrent prevention circuit is connected in parallel with the chargingswitch.

An electric-power conversion system according to the present inventionis provided with an AC/DC converter configured with a rectificationcircuit that is connected with the rear stage of an AC power source andrectifies the output of the AC power source and a semiconductorswitching device connected between the output terminals of therectification circuit, a smoothing capacitor connected with the rearstage of the AC/DC converter by way of a rectifying diode, a chargingswitch that is connected between the rear stage of the rectificationcircuit and the semiconductor switching device, that inputs an output ofthe rectification circuit to the semiconductor switching device whenbeing turned on, and that cuts off an input to the semiconductorswitching device when being turned off, and an inrush current preventioncircuit having an inrush current prevention switch and a resistor thatis connected with the rear stage of the inrush current preventionswitch; the electric-power conversion system is characterized in thatthe inrush current prevention circuit is connected in parallel with thecharging switch.

Advantage of the Invention

An electric-power conversion system according to the present inventionis provided with an inverter circuit connected with the rear stage of anAC power source, a smoothing capacitor connected with the rear stage ofthe inverter circuit by way of a rectifying diode, a charging switchthat is connected with the front stage of the inverter circuit, thatinputs an electric quantity based on an output of the AC power source tothe inverter circuit when being turned on, and that cuts off an input ofthe electric quantity to the inverter circuit when being turned off, andan inrush current prevention circuit having an inrush current preventionswitch and an inrush current prevention resistor that is connected inseries with the rear stage of the inrush current prevention switch; theinrush current prevention circuit is connected in parallel with thecharging switch. As a result, as the inrush current prevention switch, asemiconductor switching device can be utilized, and the electric-powerconversion system can be configured in such a way that only one chargingswitch is utilized when electric-power conversion is performed;therefore, it is made possible that the problem of relay contact failurecaused by low-molecular siloxane is suppressed, that the safety of thecircuit is improved, and that the system is prevented from becominglarge-scale and becoming expensive.

An electric-power conversion system according to the present inventionis provided with an AC/DC converter configured with a rectificationcircuit that is connected with the rear stage of an AC power source andrectifies the output of the AC power source and a semiconductorswitching device connected between the output terminals of therectification circuit, a smoothing capacitor connected with the rearstage of the AC/DC converter by way of a rectifying diode, a chargingswitch that is connected between the rear stage of the rectificationcircuit and the semiconductor switching device, that inputs an output ofthe rectification circuit to the semiconductor switching device whenbeing turned on, and that cuts off an input to the semiconductorswitching device when being turned off, and an inrush current preventioncircuit having an inrush current prevention switch and a resistor thatis connected with the rear stage of the inrush current preventionswitch; the inrush current prevention circuit is connected in parallelwith the charging switch. As a result, as the inrush current preventionswitch, a semiconductor switching device can be utilized, and theelectric-power conversion system can be configured in such a way thatonly one charging switch is utilized when electric-power conversion isperformed; therefore, it is made possible that the problem of relaycontact failure caused by low-molecular siloxane is suppressed, that thesafety of the circuit is improved, and that the system is prevented frombecoming large-scale and becoming expensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electric-power conversion systemaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation ofpreventing an inrush current in an electric-power conversion systemaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a currentflowing during electric-power conversion in an electric-power conversionsystem according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a currentflowing when electricity is discharged from a smoothing capacitor in anelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a currentflowing when electricity is discharged from a DC voltage source in anelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart representing determination algorithm for switchingdischarging paths in an electric-power conversion system according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram representing a variant example ofelectric-power conversion apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an electric-power conversion systemaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a currentflowing when electricity is discharged from a smoothing capacitor in anelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a currentflowing when electricity is discharged from a DC voltage source in anelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram representing a variant example ofelectric-power conversion apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an electric-power conversionsystem according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation ofpreventing an inrush current in an electric-power conversion systemaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a currentflowing when electricity is discharged from a smoothing capacitor in anelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a currentflowing when electricity is discharged from a DC voltage source in anelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of an electric-power conversionsystem according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a configuration diagram of a conventional electric-powerconversion system.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1

Hereinafter, there will be explained an electric-power conversion systemaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is aconfiguration diagram of an electric-power conversion system accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the electric-powerconversion system is configured with elements including a diode bridge12, which is a rectification circuit for applying full-waverectification to an AC input from an AC power source 1, a plurality ofelements, described later, and a smoothing capacitor 22, in that order.In the following explanation, one side, of the drawing, that is closerto the diode bridge 12 than the other side thereof when the smoothingcapacitor 22 is viewed from the diode bridge 12, i.e., that is fartherfrom the smoothing capacitor 22 will be referred to as a front stage;the other side, of the drawing, that is farther from the diode bridge 12than the one side thereof, i.e., that is closer to the smoothingcapacitor 22 will be referred to as a rear stage. Accordingly, thesmoothing capacitor 22 is disposed at the rearmost stage of theelectric-power conversion system.

In a stage following the diode bridge 12, a charging relay 2 as acharging switch, a rectified current detection circuit 30 as a currentdetection unit, and a reactor 13 as a current limiting unit are providedin a sequential and a serial manner. An inrush current preventioncircuit 7 is formed of a member in which an inrush current preventionswitch 3 and an inrush current prevention resistor 4 are connected inseries with each other, and is connected in parallel with the chargingrelay 2. The inrush current prevention switch 3 is formed of a MOSFETwith which a diode is connected in an anti-parallel manner or an IGBTwith which a diode is connected in an anti-parallel manner. Therectified voltage detection circuit 31 as a current detection circuit isprovided in such a way as to be in parallel with the diode bridge 12.

An inverter circuit 14 formed of a single-phase inverter is connectedwith the rear stage of the reactor 13 connected with the positiveelectrode side of the diode bridge 12. The inverter circuit 14 is formedof a bridge circuit including a first diode 15, a first semiconductorswitching device 17 connected with the anode of the first diode 15, asecond diode 16, and a second semiconductor switching device 18connected with the cathode of the second diode 16. Each of the firstsemiconductor switching device 17 and the second semiconductor switchingdevice 18 is formed of a MOSFET or an IGBT with which a diode isconnected in an anti-parallel manner.

The inverter circuit 14 is formed of a single-phase inverter circuitincluding a first serial circuit in which the first semiconductorswitching device 17 and the first diode 15 are connected in series witheach other, a second serial circuit in which the second semiconductorswitching device 18 and the second diode 16 are connected in series witheach other, and a DC voltage source 19; the first serial circuit and thesecond serial circuit are connected in series with each other, and theDC voltage source 19 is connected between the parallel connection pointsof the first serial circuit and the second serial circuit.

One terminal 141, at which the first semiconductor switching device 17and the first diode 15 of the inverter circuit 14 are connected witheach other, is connected with the output terminal of the reactor 13. Thereactor 13 may be connected with the rear stage of the inverter circuit14.

The other terminal 142, at which the second semiconductor switchingdevice 18 and the second diode 16 of the inverter circuit 14 areconnected with each other, is connected with one terminal of ashort-circuiting switch 21 and the anode of a rectifier diode 20 as arectifying device. The positive electrode, i.e., one terminal, of thesmoothing capacitor 22 is connected with the cathode of the rectifierdiode 20 and one terminal of an after-mentioned discharging switch 5;the negative electrode, i.e., the other terminal, of the smoothingcapacitor 22 is connected with the other terminal of theshort-circuiting switch 21 and the negative electrode of the diodebridge 12. The smoothing capacitor voltage detection circuit 33 as avoltage detection unit is connected in parallel with the smoothingcapacitor 22. The short-circuiting switch 21 is formed of a MOSFET or anIGB with which a diode is connected in an anti-parallel manner.

One terminal of the discharging switch 5 is connected with the positiveelectrode of the smoothing capacitor 22 and the cathode of the rectifierdiode 20; the other terminal thereof is connected with the connectionpoint between the inrush current prevention resistor 4 and the inrushcurrent prevention switch 3. The discharging switch 5 is formed of aMOSFET or an IGB with which a diode is connected in an anti-parallelmanner.

The rectified current detection circuit 30 as a current detection unitinputs the detection value of an output current from the diode bridge 12to a control unit 6 by way of a signal line 41; the rectified voltagedetection circuit 31 inputs the detection value of an output voltagefrom the diode bridge 12 to the control unit 6 by way of a control line41 a. ADC voltage source voltage detection circuit 32 inputs thedetection value of a voltage across the DC voltage source 19 to thecontrol unit 6 by way of a control line 41 c; a smoothing capacitorvoltage detection circuit 33 inputs the detection value of a voltageacross the smoothing capacitor 22 to the control unit 6 by way of acontrol line 41 d.

By way of control lines 40 a, 40 b, 40 d, 40 e, and 40 f, the controlunit 6 is connected with the respective gate terminals of thedischarging switch 5, the inrush current prevention switch 3, the firstsemiconductor switch 17, the second semiconductor switching device 18,and the short-circuiting switch 21 and performs ON/OFF-control of thedischarging switch 5, the inrush current prevention switch 3, the firstsemiconductor switch 17, the second semiconductor switching device 18,and the short-circuiting switch 21.

Although as the short-circuiting switch 21, there has been described oneshort-circuiting switch formed of a MOSFET or an IGB with which a diodeis connected in an anti-parallel manner, the present invention is notlimited thereto; the short-circuiting switch 21 may be a mechanicalswitch.

Next, the operation of an electric-power conversion system according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention will be explained. At a startuptime, i.e., when the electric-power conversion system starts itsoperation, an inrush current flows into the electric-power conversionsystem immediately after the AC power source 1 is turned on; thus, thecontrol unit 6 turns off the charging relay 2 by way of a control line40 c and turns on the inrush current prevention switch 3 by way of thecontrol line 40 b. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining theoperation of preventing an inrush current in an electric-powerconversion system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Ata time when the operation is started, the charging relay 2 is turned offand the inrush current prevention switch 3 is turned on, so that asindicated by a thick solid line in FIG. 2, an inrush current flows in apath that passes through the AC power source 1, the diode bridge 12, theinrush current prevention switch 3, the inrush current preventionresistor 4, the reactor 13, the first diode 15 and the secondsemiconductor switch 18 of the inverter 14, the rectifier diode 20, thesmoothing capacitor 22, and the diode bridge 12, in that order. Thevalue of the rush current is reduced by the inrush current preventionresistor 4.

Then, after confirming that the voltage value of the DC voltage source19 and the voltage value of the smoothing capacitor 22 inputted theretofrom the DC voltage source voltage detection circuit 32 and thesmoothing capacitor voltage detection circuit 33 by way of the controllines 41 c and 41 d, respectively, are the same as or higher thanpredetermined values, the control unit 6 turns on the charging relay 2byway of the control line 40 c and turns off the inrush currentprevention switch 3 by way of the control line 40 d; after that, thecontrol unit 6 starts to perform electric-power conversion.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a currentflowing during electric-power conversion in an electric-power conversionsystem according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As indicatedby a thick solid line or by a thick solid line that is partially changedby a dotted line in FIG. 3, when the charging relay 2 is turned on andthe inrush current prevention switch 3 is turned off, there isestablished a current path that passes through the AC power source 1,the diode bridge 12, the reactor 13, the inverter circuit 14, thesmoothing capacitor 22, the diode bridge 12, and the AC power source 1,in that order; then, normal electric-power conversion, described below,is performed.

In other words, when charging relay 2 is turned on and the inrushcurrent prevention switch 3 is turned off, the output, of the AC powersource 1, that has been full-wave-rectified by the diode bridge 12 isapplied between the one terminal 141 of the inverter circuit 14 and thenegative electrode of the smoothing capacitor 22, by way of the chargingrelay 2. The peal value of the input voltage to be inputted to theinverter circuit 14 is set to a value that is slightly higher than theDC voltage across the smoothing capacitor 22, which is controlled so asto be a target voltage.

In this situation, when the control unit 6 turns off both the firstsemiconductor switching device 17 and the second semiconductor switchingdevice 18 of the inverter circuit 14 by way of the control lines 40 dand 40 e, respectively, the DC voltage source 19 is charged with theinput current, from the diode bridge 12, that flows through the reactor13, the one terminal 141 of the inverter circuit 14, and the first diode15, in that order; then, the input current is outputted from the otherterminal 142. When the control unit 6 turns on only the firstsemiconductor switching device 17, the input current from the diodebridge 12 passes through the first semiconductor switching device 17 andthe second diode 16, in that order, and then is outputted from the otherterminal 142 of the inverter circuit 14.

When the control unit 6 turns on only the second semiconductor switchingdevice 18 of the inverter circuit 14, the input current that has beeninputted to the one terminal 141 of the inverter circuit 14 from thediode bridge 12 passes through the first diode 15 and the secondsemiconductor switching device 18, in that order, and then is outputtedfrom the other terminal 142 of the inverter circuit 14. When the controlunit 6 turns on the first semiconductor switching device 17 and thesecond semiconductor switching device 18 at the same time, the inputcurrent that has been inputted to the one terminal 141 of the invertercircuit 14 from the diode bridge 12 passes through the firstsemiconductor switching device 17, thereby making the DC voltage source19 discharge electricity, and is outputted from the output terminal 142by way of the second semiconductor switching device 18.

As described above, the control unit 6 performs 4 kinds of combinationcontrol of the first semiconductor switching device 17 and the secondsemiconductor switching device 18. In addition, by performingPWM-control of the inverter circuit 14, the control unit 6 controls theinput current in such a way that the input power factor of the AC powersource 1 becomes approximately “1”; concurrently the control unit 6superimposes the voltage generated by the inverter 14 on the inputvoltage. By way of the control line 40 f, the short-circuiting switch 21is controlled by the control unit 6 so as to be turned on only in ashort-circuiting phase range whose center is the zero-cross phase of theinput voltage or the input current, so that the DC voltage across thesmoothing capacitor 22 keeps track of a predetermined target voltage.Through such control described above, the electric-power conversionsystem according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention operates so asto improve the input power factor and to reduce the power loss andnoise.

Next, there will be explained the operation of the smoothing capacitor22 and the DC voltage source 19 at a time when discharging is performedin the electric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention. When electricity is discharged from the smoothingcapacitor 22 or when electricity is discharged from the DC voltagesource 19, the control unit 6 turns off the charging relay 2 and theinrush current prevention switch 3 so that no electric power is suppliedby the AC power source 1.

It is not preferable that electricity is discharged from the smoothingcapacitor 22 and the DC voltage source 19 at the same time. This isbecause there exists a demerit that when electricity is discharged fromthe smoothing capacitor 22 and the DC voltage source 19 at the sametime, an excessive current flows into the inrush current preventionresistor 4 and hence it is required to select the inrush currentprevention resistor 4 of a rating that can withstand the excessivecurrent, thereby upsizing the inrush current prevention resistor 4 andincreasing the cost.

For example, in the case where a voltage higher than the rated voltageof the DC voltage source 19 is applied across the smoothing capacitor 22and then electricity is discharged from the DC voltage source 19 and thesmoothing capacitor 22 at the same time, the voltage across thesmoothing capacitor 22 is applied to the DC voltage source 19 andexceeds the rating of the DC voltage source 19; thus, the DC voltagesource 19 or surrounding devices thereof may be broken. Therefore, inorder to avoid this, it is eventually required to raise the ratings ofthe DC voltage source and the like; thus, the electric-power conversionsystem is upsized.

Accordingly, in order to separately perform electricity discharging fromthe smoothing capacitor 22 and the DC voltage source 19, the firstsemiconductor switching device 17, the second semiconductor switchingdevice 18, and the short-circuiting switch 21 are controlled in such amanner as described below so that the inrush current prevention resistor4 is downsized.

Firstly, the operation of the smoothing capacitor 22 at a time when thedischarging is performed will be explained. FIG. 4 is an explanatorydiagram representing the path of a current flowing when electricity isdischarged from the smoothing capacitor in the electric-power conversionsystem according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; a thick solidline indicates the path through which immediately after the dischargingstarts, the electric charges that have been accumulated in the smoothingcapacitor 22 flow into the electric-power conversion system according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, as described above, when electricity is discharged from thesmoothing capacitor 22 or the DC voltage source 19, the control unit 6firstly turns off the charging relay 2 and the inrush current preventionswitch 3 so that no electric power is supplied by the AC power source 1;then, the control unit 6 turns on the discharging switch 5. Next, thecontrol unit 6 turns on the first semiconductor switching device 17 andthe short-circuiting switch 21 and turns off the second semiconductorswitching device 18. As a result, as indicated by the thick solid linein FIG. 4, the electric charges that have been accumulated in thesmoothing capacitor 22 flow through a first discharging path that isconfigured with the positive electrode of the smoothing capacitor 22,the discharging switch 5, the inrush current prevention resistor 4, thereactor 13, the first semiconductor switching device 17, the seconddiode 16, the short-circuiting switch 21, and the negative electrode ofthe smoothing capacitor 22, in that order, so that electricity isdischarged from the smoothing capacitor 22.

As indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 4, when the first semiconductorswitching device 17 is turned off and the second semiconductor switchingdevice 18 is turned on, the electric charges in the smoothing capacitor22 is discharged through a discharging path that is configured with thepositive electrode of the smoothing capacitor 22, the discharging switch5, the inrush current prevention resistor 4, the reactor 13, the firstdiode 15, the second semiconductor switching device 18, theshort-circuiting switch 21, and the negative electrode of the smoothingcapacitor 22, in that order. This discharging path will be also referredto as the first discharging path.

Next, the operation of the DC voltage source 19 at a time whendischarging is performed will be explained. FIG. 5 is an explanatorydiagram representing the path of a current flowing when electricity isdischarged from the DC voltage source in the electric-power conversionsystem according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; a thick solidline indicates the path through which the electric charges that havebeen accumulated in the smoothing capacitor 19 flow into theelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 5, as described above, the control unit 6 turns off the chargingrelay 2 and the inrush current prevention switch 3 and turns on thedischarging switch 5. Next, the control unit 6 turns on the firstsemiconductor switching device 17 and the second semiconductor switchingdevice 18 and turns off the short-circuiting switch 21. As a result, asindicated by the thick solid line in FIG. 5, the electric charges thathave been accumulated in the DC voltage source 19 flow through a seconddischarging path that is configured with the positive electrode of theDC voltage source 19, the second semiconductor switching device 18, therectifier diode 20, the discharging switch 5, the inrush currentprevention resistor 4, the reactor 13, the first semiconductor switchingdevice 17, and the negative electrode of the DC voltage source 19, inthat order, so that electricity is discharged from the DC voltage source19.

As described above, electric discharging from the smoothing capacitor 22and electric discharging from the DC voltage source 19 are performed inthe different discharging paths; therefore, the discharging paths needto be changed. FIG. 6 is a flowchart representing determinationalgorithm for switching discharging paths in an electric-powerconversion system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.The discharging path changing determination is performed by the controlunit 6. The determination algorithm represented in FIG. 6 corresponds toa switching unit in the control unit 6.

In FIG. 6, at first, in the step S1, the control unit 6 determineswhether or not the voltage value of the smoothing capacitor 22 exceedsthe voltage value of the DC voltage source 19; in the case where it isdetermined that the voltage value of the smoothing capacitor 22 is thesame as or higher than the voltage value of the DC voltage source 19(Yes), the step S1 is followed by the step S2, where circuit setting forthe electric-power conversion circuit is performed in such a way thatthe first discharging path becomes effective and the second dischargingpath becomes ineffective. That is to say, as described above, thecharging relay 2, the inrush current prevention switch 3, and the secondsemiconductor switching device 18 are turned off and the dischargingswitch 5, the first semiconductor switching device 17, and theshort-circuiting switch 21 are turned on so that the first dischargingpath indicated by the thick solid line in FIG. 4 is established. It maybe allowed that the first semiconductor switching device 17 is turnedoff and the second semiconductor switching device 18 is turned on; inthat case, part of the first discharging path is the path indicated bythe dotted line in FIG. 4. The first discharging path is established insuch a manner, so that electricity is discharged from the smoothingcapacitor 22 through the first discharging path.

Next, in the step S3, it is determined whether or not the voltage valueof the smoothing capacitor 22 is the same as or higher than apredetermined threshold value Vth, which is a predetermined value. Inthe case where it is determined in the step S3 that the voltage value ofthe smoothing capacitor 22 is lower than the threshold value Vth (No),the step S3 is followed by the step S4, where circuit setting for theelectric-power conversion circuit is performed in such a way that thefirst discharging path becomes ineffective and the second dischargingpath becomes effective. That is to say, as described above, the chargingrelay 2, the inrush current prevention switch 3, and theshort-circuiting switch 21 are turned off and the discharging switch 5,the first semiconductor switching device 17, and the secondsemiconductor switching device 18 are turned on so that the seconddischarging path indicated by the thick solid line in FIG. 5 isestablished. As a result, electricity is discharged from the DC voltagesource 19 through the second discharging path.

In contrast, in the case where it is determined in the step S3 that thevoltage value of the smoothing capacitor 22 is the same as or higherthan the threshold value Vth (Yes), the step S3 is repeated. Next, thestep S4 is followed by the step S5, where it is determined whether ornot the voltage value of the DC voltage source 19 is the same as orhigher than the threshold value Vth. In the case where it is determinedin the step S5 that the voltage value of the DC voltage source 19 islower than the threshold value Vth (No), the step S5 is followed by thestep S6, where the first discharging path and the second dischargingpath are set to be ineffective so that the discharging operation isended. When both the first discharging path and the second dischargingpath need to be ineffective, it only necessary to turn off the firstsemiconductor switching device 17 and the second semiconductor switchingdevice 18. In contrast, in the case where it is determined in the stepS6 that the voltage value of the DC voltage source 19 is the same as orhigher than the threshold value Vth (Yes), the step S5 is repeated.

In the case where it is determined in the step S1 that the voltage valueof the smoothing capacitor 22 is lower than the voltage value of the DCvoltage source 19 (No), the first discharging path is made ineffectiveand the second discharging path is made effective in the step S7 so thatelectricity is discharged from the DC voltage source 19. That is to say,the charging relay 2, the inrush current prevention switch 3, and theshort-circuiting switch 21 are turned off and the discharging switch 5,the first semiconductor switching device 17, and the secondsemiconductor switching device 18 are turned on so that the seconddischarging path indicated by the thick solid line in FIG. 5 isestablished. As a result, electricity is discharged from the DC voltagesource 19 through the second discharging path.

Next, in the step S8, it is determined whether or not the voltage valueof the DC voltage source 19 is the same as or higher than thepredetermined threshold value Vth. In the case where it is determined inthe step S8 that the voltage value of the DC voltage source 19 is lowerthan the threshold value Vth (No), the first discharging path is set tobe effective and the second discharging path is set to be ineffective inthe step S9, so that electricity discharging from the smoothingcapacitor 22 is started. That is to say, as described above, thecharging relay 2, the inrush current prevention switch 3, and the secondsemiconductor switching device 18 are turned off and the dischargingswitch 5, the first semiconductor switching device 17, and theshort-circuiting switch 21 are turned on so that the first dischargingpath indicated by the thick solid line in FIG. 4 is established andelectricity is discharged from the smoothing capacity 22.

In contrast, in the case where it is determined in the step S8 that thevoltage value of the DC voltage source 19 is the same as or higher thanthe threshold value Vth (Yes), the step S8 is repeated. Next, in thestep S10, it is determined whether or not the voltage value of thesmoothing capacitor 22 is the same as or higher than the predeterminedthreshold value Vth. In the case where it is determined in the step S10that the voltage value of the smoothing capacitor 22 is lower than thethreshold value Vth (No), the step S10 is followed by the step S6, whereboth the first discharging path and the second discharging path are setto be ineffective so that the discharging operation is ended. By turningoff both the discharging switch 5 and the short-circuiting switch 21,both the first discharging path and the second discharging path can bemade ineffective in the step S6. In contrast, in the case where it isdetermined in the step S10 that the voltage value of the smoothingcapacitor 22 is the same as or higher than the threshold value Vth(Yes), the step S10 is repeated.

As a switching determination algorithm to be performed by the foregoingcontrol unit 6, there has been represented a flowchart at a time whenthe threshold value is a voltage value; however, the present inventionis not limited thereto, and for example, the switching determination maybe performed by use of a current value as the threshold value. In otherwords, there is provided the current detection unit 30 for detecting acurrent flowing in the first discharging path or the second dischargingpath; the switching unit in the control unit 6 switches the dischargingpaths in such a way that when after, as described above, any one of thefirst discharging path and the second discharging path is made effectiveso that electricity is discharged from the smoothing capacitor or the DCvoltage source, the current value detected by the current detection unit30 is smaller than a predetermined value, the one discharging path thathas been made effective is made ineffective and the other dischargingpath that has been made ineffective is made effective.

In the foregoing electric-power conversion system according toEmbodiment 1 of the present invention, the inrush current preventionresistor 4 is connected in series between the output stage of the diodebridge 12 and the inverter circuit 14; however, the present invention isnot limited thereto, and the inrush current prevention resistor 4 may beconnected with the rear stage of the reactor 13 or the rear stage of theinverter circuit 14. In Embodiment 1 described above, the cathode of therectifier diode 20 is connected with the positive electrode of thesmoothing capacitor 22; however, when the anode of the rectifier diode20 is connected with the negative electrode of the smoothing capacitor22, the same operation as that of Embodiment 1 can be implemented.

Moreover, in Embodiment 1 described above, there has been explained theinverter circuit 14 that is formed of a single-phase inverter; however,as a variant example of Embodiment 1, the inverter circuit may be formedby connecting a plurality of single-phase inverters in series. In otherwords, FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram representing a variant exampleof electric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 7, an inverter circuit 100 is configured with a firstsingle-phase inverter 14 a and a second single-phase inverter 14 b. Oneend 14 a 1 of the first single-phase inverter 14 a is connected with therear stage of the reactor 13 and the other end 14 a 2 thereof isconnected with one end 14 b 1 of the second single-phase inverter 14 b.The connection point between the short-circuiting switch 21 and therectifier diode 20 is connected with the other end 14 b 2 of the secondsingle-phase inverter 14 b. The respective voltages of the DC voltagesource 19 of the first single-phase inverter 14 a and the DC voltagesource 19 of the second single-phase inverter 14 b are set to be asingle and the same voltage value. The respective AC terminals of thefirst single-phase inverter 14 a and the second single-phase inverter 14b are connected in series with each other. The other configurations arethe same as those in FIG. 1.

Also in the variant example of Embodiment 1, electricity dischargingfrom the smoothing capacitor 22 and electricity discharging from the DCvoltage source 19 of the first single-phase inverter 14 a or from the DCvoltage source 19 of the second single-phase inverter 14 b are performedthrough different discharging paths; therefore, it is required to switchthe discharging paths; however, the switching algorism is basically thesame as the switching determination algorism for the discharging pathsrepresented in FIG. 6. In the following explanation, there will beexplained only the setting in the steps S2 and S9 in which the firstdischarging path is made effective and the second discharging path ismade ineffective, the setting in the steps S4 and S7 in which the firstdischarging path is made ineffective and the second discharging path ismade effective, and the setting in the step S6 in which the firstdischarging path is made ineffective and the second discharging path ismade ineffective.

At first, the setting in the steps S2 and S9 in which the firstdischarging path is made effective and the second discharging path ismade ineffective is performed in such a way that the charging relay 2,the inrush current prevention switch 3, one of the first and secondsemiconductor switching devices 17 and 18 in the first single-phaseinverter 14 a, and one of the first and second semiconductor switchingdevices 17 and 18 in the second single-phase inverter 14 b are turnedoff and the discharging switch 5, the other one of the first and secondsemiconductor switching devices 17 and 18 in the first single-phaseinverter 14 a, the other one of the first and second semiconductorswitching devices 17 and 18 in the second single-phase inverter 14 b,and the short-circuiting switch 21 are turned on. As a result, the firstdischarging path is established without passing through the respectiveDC voltage sources 19 of the first and second single-phase inverters 14a and 14 b; then, electric discharging from the smoothing capacitor 22through the first discharging path is started.

Next, the setting in the steps S4 and S7 in which the first dischargingpath is made ineffective and the second discharging path is madeeffective is performed in such a way that the charging relay 2, theinrush current prevention switch 3, one of the first and secondsemiconductor switching devices 17 and 18 in the second single-phaseinverter 14 b, and the short-circuiting switch 21 are turned off and thedischarging switch 5, the other one of the first and secondsemiconductor switching devices 17 and 18 in the second single-phaseinverter 14 b, and both the first and second semiconductor switchingdevices 17 and 18 in the first single-phase inverter 14 a are turned onat the same time. As a result, the second discharging path for the DCvoltage source 19 in the first single-phase inverter 14 a is establishedwithout passing through the DC voltage sources 19 of the secondsingle-phase inverter 14 b; then, electric discharging from the DCvoltage source 19 of the first single-phase inverter 14 a can bestarted. Next, both the first and second semiconductor switching devices17 and 18 in the second single-phase inverter 14 b are turned on at thesame time, one of the first and second semiconductor switching devices17 and 18 in the first single-phase inverter 14 a is turned on, and theother one of the first and second semiconductor switching devices 17 and18 in the first single-phase inverter 14 a is turned off. As a result,electric discharging from the DC voltage source 19 of the secondsingle-phase inverter 14 b can be performed without passing through theDC voltage sources 19 of the first single-phase inverter 14 a.

When the first and second semiconductor switching devices 17 and 18 ofthe first single-phase inverter 14 a and the first and secondsemiconductor switching devices 17 and 18 of the second single-phaseinverter 14 b are all turned on at the same time, it is made possiblethat electric discharging from the DC voltage source 19 of the firstsingle-phase inverter 14 a and electric discharging from the DC voltagesource 19 of the second single-phase inverter 14 b are concurrentlyperformed; however, because in this case, the discharging currentbecomes large, it is desirable that as described above, electricdischarging from the DC voltage source 19 of the first single-phaseinverter 14 a and electric discharging from the DC voltage source 19 ofthe second single-phase inverter 14 b are separately performed.

Next, by turning off both the discharging switch 5 and theshort-circuiting switch 21, both the first discharging path and thesecond discharging path can be made ineffective in the step S6.

Also in this variant example of Embodiment 1, the inrush currentprevention resistor 4 is connected in series between the output stage ofthe diode bridge 12 and the inverter circuit 14; however, the presentinvention is not limited thereto; for example, it may be allowed thatthe inrush current prevention resistor 4 is connected in series betweenthe first single-phase inverter 14 a and the second single-phaseinverter 14 b.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an electric-power conversion systemaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. An electric-powerconversion system according to Embodiment 2 of the present inventiondiffers from the electric-power conversion system according toEmbodiment 1 in terms of the connection position of a short-circuitingswitch 21 a; however, other parts thereof are the same as those of theelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 1. In theelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the short-circuiting switch21 a is connected between the negative electrode of the DC voltagesource 19 in the inverter circuit 14 and the negative electrode of thesmoothing capacitor 22. Speaking more in detail, one end of theshort-circuiting switch 21 a is connected with the negative electrode ofthe DC voltage source 19, and the other end of the short-circuitingswitch 21 a is connected with the negative electrode of the diode bridge12 and the negative electrode of the smoothing capacitor 22.

In the electric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention, electric discharging from the smoothing capacitor 22is performed in the following manner. In other words, FIG. 9 is anexplanatory diagram representing the path of a current flowing whenelectricity is discharged from the smoothing capacitor in theelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention. In FIG. 9, when electricity is discharged from thesmoothing capacitor 22, the control unit 6 turns off the charging relay2, the inrush current prevention switch 3, and the second semiconductorswitching device 18 of the inverter circuit 14 and turns on thedischarging switch 5, the first semiconductor switching device 17 of theinverter circuit 14, and the short-circuiting switch 21 a. As a result,as indicated by a thick solid line, the electric charges that have beenaccumulated in the smoothing capacitor 22 flow through a firstdischarging path that is configured with the positive electrode of thesmoothing capacitor 22, the discharging switch 5, the inrush currentprevention resistor 4, the reactor 13, the first semiconductor switchingdevice 17, the short-circuiting switch 21, and the negative electrode ofthe smoothing capacitor 22, so that electricity is discharged from thesmoothing capacitor 22.

Next, electric discharging from the DC voltage source 19 in the invertercircuit 14 is implemented in the following manner. In other words, FIG.10 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a current flowingwhen electricity is discharged from the DC voltage source in theelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention. In FIG. 10, when electricity is discharged from theDC voltage source 19, the control unit 6 turns off the charging relay 2,the inrush current prevention switch 3, and the short-circuiting switch21 a and turns on the discharging switch 5, the first semiconductorswitching device 17, and the second semiconductor switching device 18.As a result, as indicated by the thick solid line in FIG. 10, theelectric charges that have been accumulated in the DC voltage source 19flow through a second discharging path that is configured with thepositive electrode of the DC voltage source 19, the second semiconductorswitching device 18, the rectifier diode 20, the discharging switch 5,the inrush current prevention resistor 4, the reactor 13, the firstsemiconductor switching device 17, and the negative electrode of the DCvoltage source 19, so that electricity is discharged from the DC voltagesource 19.

The electric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention can demonstrate the same effect as the electric-powerconversion system according to Embodiment 1. Because theshort-circuiting switch 21 a is connected with the negative electrode ofthe DC voltage source 19, the number of circuit elements, through whicha current passes while the short-circuiting switch 21 a is turned on,can be reduced; thus, the loads imposed on the circuit elements duringelectric discharging can be decreased. Moreover, the conduction loss ofthe electric-power conversion system can also be decreased, and hencethere is demonstrated an effect that the conversion efficiency of theoverall electric-power conversion system can be raised.

Moreover, in Embodiment 2 described above, there has been explained theinverter circuit 14 that is formed of a single-phase inverter; however,as a variant example of Embodiment 2, the inverter circuit may be formedby connecting a plurality of single-phase inverters in series. In otherwords, FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram representing a variant exampleof electric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 2 of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 11, an inverter circuit 100 is configured with a firstsingle-phase inverter 14 a and a second single-phase inverter 14 b. Oneend 14 a 1 of the first single-phase inverter 14 a is connected with therear stage of the reactor 13 and the other end 14 a 2 thereof isconnected with one end 14 b 1 of the second single-phase inverter 14 b.The anode of the rectifier diode 20 is connected with the other end 14 b2 of the second single-phase inverter 14 b. As described above, therespective AC terminals of the first single-phase inverter 14 a and thesecond single-phase inverter 14 b are connected in series with eachother. The respective voltages of the DC voltage source 19 of the firstsingle-phase inverter 14 a and the DC voltage source 19 of the secondsingle-phase inverter 14 b are set to be a single and the same voltagevalue.

In the case where as illustrated in FIG. 11, a plurality of single-phaseinverters 14 a and 14 b are connected in series with each other so as toconfigure the inverter circuit 100, the short-circuiting switch 21 a isconnected with the negative electrode of the DC voltage source 19 in thesingle-phase inverter 14 b, among the plurality of single-phaseinverters 14 a and 14 b, that is provided in the last stage, so that theinverter circuit 100 operates in the same manner as the inverter circuitillustrated in FIG. 10 and hence the same effect is demonstrated.

As is the case with FIG. 7 described above, there is implemented controlof the first semiconductor switching device 17 and the secondsemiconductor switching device 18 of the first single-phase inverter 14a and the first semiconductor switching device 17 and the secondsemiconductor switching device 18 of the second single-phase inverter 14b at a time when electric discharging from the smoothing capacitor 22 isperformed and at a time when electric discharging from the DC voltagesource 19 of the first single-phase inverter 14 a or electricdischarging from the DC voltage source 19 of the second single-phaseinverter 14 b is performed.

Also in this variant example of Embodiment 2, the inrush currentprevention circuit 7 is connected in series with the output stage of thediode bridge 12; however, the present invention is not limited thereto;for example, it may be allowed that the inrush current preventioncircuit 7 is connected in series between the first single-phase inverter14 a and the second single-phase inverter 14 b.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an electric-power conversionsystem according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 12, the electric-power conversion system accordingto Embodiment 3 of the present invention is not provided with the diodebridge 12, unlike each of Embodiments 1 and 2; one terminal of the ACpower source 1 is connected directly with the charging relay 2, and theinrush current prevention switch 3 and the inrush current preventionresistor 4 are connected in parallel with the charging relay 2. Theoutput stage of the charging relay 2 is connected with the rectifiedcurrent detection circuit 30 and the reactor 13; one terminal 291 of aninverter circuit 29 including a single-phase inverter is connected withthe rear stage of the reactor 13. The rectified voltage detectioncircuit 31 is provided in such a way as to be in parallel with the ACpower source 1.

The inverter circuit 29 is configured with the first semiconductorswitching device 17, the second semiconductor switching device 18, athird semiconductor switching device 27, and a fourth semiconductorswitching device 28 that are each formed of an IGBT with which a diodeis connected in an anti-parallel manner or a MOSFET, between the sourceand the drain of which a diode is connected in an anti-parallel manner,and the DC voltage source 19. The DC voltage source voltage detectioncircuit 32 is connected in parallel with the DC voltage source 19.

The other terminal 292 of the inverter circuit 29 is connected with theseries connection point between a first short-circuiting switch 23 aformed of a semiconductor switching device such as a MOSFET, with whicha diode 25 a is connected in an anti-parallel manner, and a firstrectifier diode 24 a. Furthermore, the other terminal of the AC powersource 1 is connected with the series connection point between a secondshort-circuiting switch 23 b formed of a semiconductor switching devicesuch as a MOSFET, with which a diode 25 b is connected in ananti-parallel manner, and a second rectifier diode 24 b. The firstshort-circuiting switch 23 a and the first rectifier diode 24 aconfigure a first serial circuit 26 a; the second short-circuitingswitch 23 b and the second rectifier diode 24 b configure a secondserial circuit 26 b.

The first serial circuit 26 a and the second serial circuit 26 b areconnected in parallel with each other; across the output stage thereof,the both terminals of the smoothing capacitor 22 are connected. Thesmoothing capacitor voltage detection circuit 33 is connected inparallel with the smoothing capacitor 22. In this case, each of thefirst short-circuiting switch 23 a and the second short-circuitingswitch 23 b is not limited to a semiconductor switching device but maybe formed of a mechanical switch; in that case, each of the diodes 25 aand 25 b is connected in an anti-parallel manner.

The electric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention differs from each of the electric-power conversionsystems according to Embodiments 1 and 2 in terms of the configurationsof short-circuiting switches and the like; however, other parts thereofare the same as those of each of the electric-power conversion systemsaccording to Embodiments 1 and 2.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation ofpreventing an inrush current in the electric-power conversion systemaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention; a thick solid lineindicates the path through which a current flows immediately after theoperation starts. In FIG. 13, when the operation is started, thecharging relay 2, the discharging switch 5, the first semiconductorswitching device 17, the second semiconductor switching device 18, andthe first short-circuiting switch 23 a are turned off and the thirdsemiconductor switching device 27, the fourth semiconductor switchingdevice 28, and the second short-circuiting switch 23 b are turned on.Then, in this situation, the inrush current prevention switch 3 isturned on.

As a result, as indicated by the thick solid line, a current flowsthrough the AC power source 1, the inrush current prevention switch 3,the inrush current prevention resistor 4, the reactor 13, the thirdsemiconductor switching device 27, the DC voltage source 19, the fourthsemiconductor switching device 28, the first rectifier diode 24 a, thesmoothing capacitor 22, the second short-circuiting switch 23 b, and theAC power source 1, in that order, so that the DC voltage source 19 andthe smoothing capacitor 22 are charged. The value of the rush current isreduced by the inrush current prevention resistor 4.

Then, the charging relay 2, the first semiconductor switching device 17,and the first short-circuiting switch 23 a are turned on and the inrushcurrent prevention switch 3, and the third semiconductor switchingdevice 27 are turned off, so that the path through which the current hasflowed from the AC power source 1 is switched to a path that isconfigured with the AC power source 1, the charging relay 2, the reactor13, the first semiconductor switching device 17, the fourthsemiconductor switching device 28, the first short-circuiting switch 23a, the second short-circuiting switch 23 b, and the AC power source 1,in that order.

Next, the operation of the smoothing capacitor 22 will be explained.FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram representing the path of a currentflowing when electricity is discharged from the smoothing capacitor inthe electric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention. At first, the charging relay 2, the inrush currentprevention switch 3, the second semiconductor switching device 18, thethird semiconductor switching device 27, and the second short-circuitingswitch 23 b are turned off and the discharging switch 5, the firstsemiconductor switching device 17, the fourth semiconductor switchingdevice 28, and the first short-circuiting switch 23 a are turned on.

As a result, as indicated by a thick solid line in FIG. 14, the electriccharges that have been accumulated in the smoothing capacitor 22 flowthrough a first discharging path that is configured with the positiveelectrode of the smoothing capacitor 22, the discharging switch 5, theinrush current prevention resistor 4, the reactor 13, the firstsemiconductor switching device 17, the fourth semiconductor switchingdevice 28, the first short-circuiting switch 23 a, and the negativeelectrode of the smoothing capacitor 22, in that order, so thatelectricity is discharged from the smoothing capacitor 22.

Next, the operation of electric discharging from the DC voltage source19 in the inverter circuit 29 will be explained. FIG. 15 is anexplanatory diagram representing the path of a current flowing whenelectricity is discharged from the DC voltage source in theelectric-power conversion system according to Embodiment 3 of thepresent invention. In order to discharge electricity from the DC voltagesource 19, at first, the charging relay 2, and the inrush currentprevention switch 3 are turned off; then, the discharging switch 5, thefirst semiconductor switching device 17, the second semiconductorswitching device 18 are turned on and the third semiconductor switchingdevice 27, the fourth semiconductor switching device 28, the firstshort-circuiting switch 23 a, and the second short-circuiting switch 23b are turned off.

As a result, as indicated by a thick solid line in FIG. 15, the electriccharges that have been accumulated in the DC voltage source 19 flowthrough a second discharging path that is configured with the positiveelectrode of the DC voltage source 19, the second semiconductorswitching device 18, the first rectifier diode 24 a, the dischargingswitch 5, the inrush current prevention resistor 4, the reactor 13, thefirst semiconductor switching device 17, and the negative electrode ofthe DC voltage source 19, in that order, so that electricity isdischarged from the DC voltage source 19.

Embodiment 3 makes it possible to obtain the same effect as Embodiment1; moreover, because the diode bridge 12, which is utilized inEmbodiment 1, is not required, the number of components can be reducedand hence the configuration of the system is simplified. Moreover,because the number of devices through which a current passes can bereduced, the conduction loss can be decreased and the conversionefficiency of the overall electric-power conversion system can beraised.

Also in Embodiment 3, as illustrated in FIG. 7 that represents thevariant example of Embodiment 1, the inverter circuit 100 may beconfigured with a plurality of single-phase inverters that are connectedin series with one another. In this case, it may be allowed that theinrush current prevention resistor 4 is connected in series between thefirst single-phase inverter 14 a and the second single-phase inverter 14b.

In Embodiments 1, 2, and 3, as the rectifying devices, the rectifierdiodes 20, 24 a, and 24 b are connected with the smoothing capacitor 22;however, it may be allowed that instead of those rectifier diodes,semiconductor switches are connected therewith and the semiconductorswitch is on/off-controlled so as to perform the same operation as therectifier diode does.

In each of Embodiments 1, 2, and 3, the one end of the dischargingswitch 5 is connected with the positive electrode of the smoothingcapacitor 22; however, the present invention is not limited thereto, andthe one end of the discharging switch 5 may be connected with thenegative electrode of the smoothing capacitor 22.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of an electric-power conversionsystem according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In each ofEmbodiments 1 through 3, an inverter circuit formed of a single-phaseinverter is provided; however, in Embodiment 4, a PFC (Power FactorCorrection) converter is provided instead of the inverter circuit.

In FIG. 16, a semiconductor switching device 42, formed of an IGBT withwhich a diode is connected in an anti-parallel manner or a MOSFET with adiode contained therein in such a way as to be connected between thesource and the drain thereof, and a diode 41, connected between one endof the semiconductor switching device 42 and one end of the smoothingcapacitor 22, configure a PFC converter. The other configurations arethe same as those in each of Embodiments 1 through 3.

The operation of the electric-power conversion system according toEmbodiment 4 will be explained. In the case where when electric chargingis started, the voltage value of the smoothing capacitor 22 detected bythe smoothing capacitor voltage detection circuit 33 is smaller than apredetermined voltage value, the control unit 6 turns off the chargingrelay 2 and the discharging switch 5 and turns on the inrush currentprevention switch. As a result, an inrush current from the diode bridge12 is prevented. After that, in the case where it is determined that thevoltage value of the smoothing capacitor 22 detected by the smoothingcapacitor voltage detection circuit 33 is the same as or larger than thepredetermined voltage value, the control unit 6 turns on the chargingrelay 2 and turns off the inrush current prevention switch 3 and thedischarging switch 5. As a result, electricity is discharged from thesmoothing capacitor 22 through a charging path that is configured withthe AC power source 1, the diode bridge 12, the charging relay 2, areactor 40, a rectifier diode 41, the smoothing capacitor 22, the diodebridge 12, and the AC power source 1, in that order.

Next, the operation of the electric-power conversion system at a timewhen electric discharging is performed will be explained. That is tosay, in the case where the voltage value of the smoothing capacitor 22detected by the smoothing capacitor voltage detection circuit 33 is thesame as or larger than the predetermined voltage value, the control unit6 turns off the charging relay 2 and the inrush current preventionswitch 3 and turns on the discharging switch 5. As a result, theelectric charges that have been accumulated in the smoothing capacitor22 flow through a five discharging path that is configured with thepositive electrode of the smoothing capacitor 22, the discharging switch5, the inrush current prevention resistor 4, the reactor 40, thesemiconductor switching device 42, and the negative electrode of thesmoothing capacitor 22, in that order, so that electricity is dischargedfrom the smoothing capacitor 22.

Embodiment 4 makes it possible to obtain the same effect as Embodiment1; moreover, the number of components can be reduced and hence theconfiguration of the system is simplified. Moreover, because the numberof devices through which a current passes can be reduced, the conductionloss can be decreased and the conversion efficiency of the overallelectric-power conversion system can be raised.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be applied to the field of an electric-powerconversion system for converting AC electric power into DC electricpower and is useful especially in the field of a vehicle electric-powerconversion system mounted in a vehicle such as an automobile and in theautomobile industry.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1: AC power source-   2: charging relay-   3: inrush current prevention switch-   4: inrush current prevention resistor-   5: discharging switch-   6: control unit-   7: inrush current prevention circuit-   12: diode bridge-   13: reactor-   14, 29, 100: inverter circuit-   14 a: 1st single-phase inverter-   14 b: 2nd single-phase inverter-   15: 1st diode-   16: 2nd diode-   17: 1st semiconductor switching device-   18: 2nd semiconductor switching device-   19: DC voltage source-   20: rectifier diode-   21, 21 a: short-circuiting switch-   22: smoothing capacitor-   23 a: 1st short-circuiting switch-   23 b: 2nd short-circuiting switch-   24 a: 1st rectifier diode-   24 b: 2nd rectifier diode-   25 a, 25 b: diode-   26 a: 1st serial circuit-   26 b: 2nd serial circuit-   27: 3rd semiconductor switching device-   28: 4th semiconductor switching device-   30: rectified current detection circuit-   31: rectified voltage detection circuit-   32: DC voltage source voltage detection circuit-   33: smoothing capacitor voltage detection circuit-   40 a, 40 b, 40 c, 40 d, 40 e, 40 f: control line-   41 a, 41 b, 41 c: signal line

The invention claimed is:
 1. An electric-power conversion systemcomprising: a diode bridge connected to an AC power source; an invertercircuit connected with a rear stage of the diode bridge; a smoothingcapacitor connected with a rear stage of the inverter circuit via arectifying device; a charging switch that is connected with the rearstage of the diode bridge and a front stage of the inverter circuit,that inputs an electric quantity based on an output of the AC powersource to the inverter circuit when being turned on, and that cuts offan input of the electric quantity to the inverter circuit when beingturned off; an inrush current prevention circuit connected in parallelwith the charging switch and having: an inrush current prevention switchconnected with the rear stage of the diode bridge, and an inrush currentprevention resistor that is connected with the front stage of theinverter circuit and connected in series with a rear stage of the inrushcurrent prevention switch; and a discharging switch, one terminal ofwhich is connected between the inrush current prevention switch and theinrush current prevention resistor and other terminal of which isconnected with one terminal of the smoothing capacitor, wherein thedischarging switch connects the one terminal of the smoothing capacitorwith the front stage of the inrush current prevention resistor whenbeing turned on and disconnects the one terminal of the smoothingcapacitor from the front stage of the inrush current prevention resistorwhen being turned off.
 2. The electric-power conversion system accordingto claim 1, further including a control unit that performson/off-control of the charging switch and the inrush current preventionswitch and a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage value of thesmoothing capacitor, wherein the control unit performs the control,based on a voltage value of the smoothing capacitor detected by thevoltage detection unit.
 3. The electric-power conversion systemaccording to claim 2, wherein when operation is started, the controlunit turns off the charging switch and turns on the inrush currentprevention switch.
 4. The electric-power conversion system according toclaim 2, wherein the control unit turns off the charging switch andturns on the inrush current prevention switch in the case where avoltage value detected by the voltage detection unit is smaller than apredetermined value, and the control unit turns on the charging switchand turns off the inrush current prevention switch in the case where thevoltage value detected by the voltage detection unit is the same as orlarger than a predetermined value.
 5. The electric-power conversionsystem according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performson/off-control of the charging switch, the inrush current preventionswitch, and the discharging switch, and performs the control, based on avoltage value of the smoothing capacitor detected by the voltagedetection unit.
 6. The electric-power conversion system according toclaim 5, wherein the control unit turns off the charging switch and theinrush current prevention switch and turns on the discharging switch inthe case where a voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit isthe same as or larger than a predetermined value.
 7. The electric-powerconversion system according to claim 1, wherein the inverter circuit isformed of a single-phase inverter circuit including a first serialcircuit in which a first semiconductor switching device and a firstdiode are connected in series with each other, a second serial circuitin which a second semiconductor switching device and a second diode areconnected in series with each other, and a DC voltage source; the firstserial circuit and the second serial circuit are connected in parallelwith each other; and the DC voltage source is connected between theparallel connection points of the first serial circuit and the secondserial circuit.
 8. The electric-power conversion system according toclaim 7, wherein the inverter circuit is configured with a plurality ofthe single-phase inverter circuits that are connected in series with oneanother.
 9. The electric-power conversion system according to claim 7,wherein one terminal of the rectifying device is connected with the rearstage of the inverter circuit and other terminal thereof is connectedwith the one terminal of the smoothing capacitor; and other terminal ofthe smoothing capacitor is connected with the one terminal of therectifying device via a short-circuiting switch.
 10. The electric-powerconversion system according to claim 9, wherein there are provided afirst discharging path including the discharging switch, the inrushcurrent prevention resistor, at least one semiconductor switching devicein the inverter circuit, the short-circuiting switch, and the smoothingcapacitor and a second discharging path including at least onesemiconductor switching device in the inverter circuit, the rectifyingdevice, the discharging switch, the inrush current prevention resistor,and the DC power source; and the electric-power conversion systemfurther includes a control unit having a switching unit that switchesthe first discharging path and the second discharging path.
 11. Theelectric-power conversion system according to claim 10, furtherincluding a smoothing capacitor voltage detection unit that detects avoltage value of the smoothing capacitor and a DC voltage source voltagedetection unit that detects a voltage value of the DC power source,wherein the switching unit performs the switching in such a manner thatthe switching unit compares the detected voltage value of the smoothingcapacitor with the detected voltage value of the DC power source, thatin the case where the voltage value of the smoothing capacitor is thesame as or larger than the voltage value of the DC power source, theswitching unit makes the first discharging path effective and the seconddischarging path ineffective, and that in the case where the voltagevalue of the smoothing capacitor is smaller than the voltage value ofthe DC power source, the switching unit makes the second dischargingpath effective and the first discharging path ineffective.
 12. Theelectric-power conversion system according to claim 11, wherein in thecase where after making effective one of the first discharging path andthe second discharging path so that electricity is discharged from thesmoothing capacitor or the DC voltage source, the voltage value of thesmoothing capacitor or the DC voltage source from which electricity hasbeen discharged becomes smaller than a predetermined value, theswitching unit makes ineffective the one discharging path that has beenmade effective and makes effective the other discharging path that hasbeen made ineffective.
 13. The electric-power conversion systemaccording to claim 11, further including a current detection unit thatdetects a current flowing in the first discharging path or the seconddischarging path, wherein in the case where after making effective oneof the first discharging path and the second discharging path so thatelectricity is discharged from the smoothing capacitor or the DC voltagesource, the detected value of the current flowing in the dischargingpath becomes smaller than a predetermined value, the switching unitmakes ineffective the one discharging path that has been made effectiveand makes effective the other discharging path that has been madeineffective.
 14. The electric-power conversion system according to claim1, wherein one terminal of the charging switch is connected with oneterminal of the AC power source; the inverter circuit is formed of asingle-phase inverter including a first serial circuit in which a firstsemiconductor switching device and a third semiconductor switchingdevice are connected in series with each other, a second serial circuitin which a second semiconductor switching device and a fourthsemiconductor switching device are connected in series with each other,and a DC voltage source; the first serial circuit and the second serialcircuit are connected in parallel with each other; and the DC voltagesource is connected between the parallel connection points of the firstserial circuit and the second serial circuit.
 15. The electric-powerconversion system according to claim 14, wherein the inverter circuit isconfigured with a plurality of the single-phase inverter circuits thatare connected in series with one another.
 16. The electric-powerconversion system according to claim 14, wherein there are provided afirst rectifying device, one terminal of which is connected with theserial connection point between the second semiconductor switchingdevice and the fourth semiconductor switching device and the otherterminal of which is connected with the one terminal of the smoothingcapacitor, a second rectifying device, one terminal of which isconnected with the other terminal of the AC power source and the otherterminal of which is connected with the one terminal of the soothingcapacitor, a first short-circuiting switch connected between the oneterminal of the first rectifying device and the other terminal of thesmoothing capacitor, and a second short-circuiting switch connectedbetween the one terminal of the second rectifying device and the otherterminal of the smoothing capacitor.
 17. The electric-power conversionsystem according to claim 16, wherein there are provided a firstdischarging path including the discharging switch, the inrush currentprevention resistor, at least one semiconductor switching device in theinverter circuit, the first short-circuiting switch, and the smoothingcapacitor and a second discharging path including at least onesemiconductor switching device in the inverter circuit, the firstrectifying device, the discharging switch, the inrush current preventionresistor, and the DC power source; and the electric power conversion sstem further includes a control unit having a switching unit thatswitches the first discharging path and the second discharging path. 18.The electric-power conversion system according to claim 17, furtherincluding a smoothing capacitor voltage detection unit that detects avoltage value of the smoothing capacitor and a DC voltage source voltagedetection unit that detects a voltage value of the DC power source,wherein the switching unit performs the switching in such a manner thatthe switching unit compares the detected voltage value of the smoothingcapacitor with the detected voltage value of the DC power source, thatin the case where the voltage value of the smoothing capacitor is thesame as or larger than the voltage value of the DC power source, theswitching unit makes the first discharging path effective and the seconddischarging path ineffective, and that in the case where the voltagevalue of the smoothing capacitor is smaller than the voltage value ofthe DC power source, the switching unit makes the second dischargingpath effective and the first discharging path ineffective.
 19. Theelectric-power conversion system according to claim 18, wherein in thecase where after making effective one of the first discharging path andthe second discharging path so that electricity is discharged from thesmoothing capacitor or the DC voltage source, the voltage value of thesmoothing capacitor or the DC voltage source from which electricity hasbeen discharged becomes smaller than a predetermined value, theswitching unit makes ineffective the one discharging path that has beenmade effective and makes effective the other discharging path that hasbeen made ineffective.
 20. The electric-power conversion systemaccording to claim 18, further including a current detection unit thatdetects a current flowing in the first discharging path or the seconddischarging path, wherein in the case where after making effective oneof the first discharging path and the second discharging path so thatelectricity is discharged from the smoothing capacitor or the DC voltagesource, the detected value of the current flowing in the dischargingpath becomes smaller than a predetermined value, the switching unitmakes ineffective the one discharging path that has been made effectiveand makes effective the other discharging path that has been madeineffective.
 21. The electric-power conversion system according to claim1, further including a current limiting unit connected with the frontstage or the rear stage of the inverter circuit.
 22. The electric-powerconversion system according to claim 1, wherein a front stage of thediode bridge is directly connected to the AC power source, and the rearstage of the diode bridge is directly connected to the charging switchand the inrush current prevention switch.
 23. An electric-powerconversion system comprising: an AC/DC converter provided with arectification circuit that is connected with a rear stage of an AC powersource and rectifies the output of the AC power source and asemiconductor switching device connected between output terminals of therectification circuit; a smoothing capacitor connected with the rearstage of the AC/DC converter via a rectifying device; a charging switchthat is connected between the rear stage of the rectification circuitand the semiconductor switching device, that inputs an output of therectification circuit to the semiconductor switching device when beingturned on, and that cuts off an input to the semiconductor switchingdevice when being turned off; an inrush current prevention circuithaving an inrush current prevention switch and a resistor that isconnected with the rear stage of the inrush current prevention switch,wherein the inrush current prevention circuit is connected in parallelwith the charging switch; and a discharging switch, one terminal ofwhich is connected between the inrush current prevention switch and theinrush current prevention resistor and other terminal of which isconnected with one terminal of the smoothing capacitor, wherein thedischarging switch connects the one terminal of the smoothing capacitorwith the front stage of the inrush current prevention resistor whenbeing turned on and disconnects the one terminal of the smoothingcapacitor from the front stage of the inrush current prevention resistorwhen being turned off.
 24. The electric-power conversion systemaccording to claim 23, further including: a control unit that performson/off-control of the charging switch and the inrush current preventionswitch and a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage value of thesmoothing capacitor, wherein the control unit performs the control,based on a voltage value of the smoothing capacitor detected by thevoltage detection unit.
 25. The electric-power conversion systemaccording to claim 24, wherein when operation is started, the controlunit turns off the charging switch and turns on the inrush currentprevention switch.
 26. The electric-power conversion system according toclaim 24, wherein the control unit turns off the charging switch andturns on the inrush current prevention switch in the case where avoltage value detected by the voltage detection unit is smaller than apredetermined value, and the control unit turns on the charging switchand turns off the inrush current prevention switch in the case where thevoltage value detected by the voltage detection unit is the same as orlarger than the predetermined value.
 27. The electric-power conversionsystem according to claim 24, wherein the control unit turns off thecharging switch and the inrush current prevention switch and turns onthe discharging switch in the case where a voltage value detected by thevoltage detection unit is the same as or larger than a predeterminedvalue.
 28. The electric-power conversion system according to claim 23,further including: a discharging path including the discharging switch,the inrush current prevention resistor, a semiconductor switching devicein the AC/DC converter, and the smoothing capacitor, wherein the controlunit makes the discharging path effective in the case where the detectedvoltage value of the smoothing capacitor is the same as or larger than apredetermined value and makes the discharging path ineffective in thecase where the detected voltage value of the smoothing capacitor issmaller than the predetermined value.
 29. The electric-power conversionsystem according to claim 28, further including: a current detectionunit that detects a current flowing in the discharging path, wherein inthe case where after making the discharging path effective so thatelectricity is discharged from the smoothing capacitor, the detectedvalue of the current flowing in the discharging path becomes smallerthan a predetermined value, the control unit makes ineffective thedischarging path that has been made effective.